It was indeed a sonic boom you heard. Boeing confirmed it only hours after the loud crack that shook the windows at the Lake and beyond from Rocky Mount to Wheatland on Thursday, June 21. A supersonic F-15 passed over the Lake of the Ozarks just before noon, a Boeing spokesperson said.
A condensation cloud forms on an F-15E Strike Eagle as the jet flies at supersonic speeds.
While the Lake of the Ozarks area is approved for flyovers, they are relatively uncommon. When they happen, they stir up mystery and concern and many folks on social media commented that today's boom sounded different from others. Each boom can sound different depending on air pressure and the direction the jet is traveling.
The jet’s top speed of 1,875 mph makes it the eighth-fastest aircraft ever built, according to Boeing. And who was going that fast? Well, Boeing supplies F-15s under contract with the U.S. Air Force. The Boeing source noted it is not uncommon for an Air Force pilot and a Boeing test pilot to both be on board.
Yep, that was a sonic boom.
From Boeing’s website: “The F-15E Strike Eagle is a twin-engine, all weather fighter that is the backbone for the Air Force’s air superiority. Its proven design is undefeated in air-to-air combat, with more than 100 aerial combat victories. Its two engines provide 58,000 pounds of thrust, which enable the F-15 to exceed speeds of Mach 2.5. Boeing has built more than 1,600 of the aircraft for six countries around the world. None of them plan to retire the F-15.
